Brick-machine.



PaienfedAug. I9, I902. W F STIMPSON BRICK MACHINE.

Appl t nfildOf '7 1898) 4 sheetsfisheet I.

rv 0 i 0 WWW wd J 9 (No Model.)

Patented Aug. l9, I902.

I W. F. STIMPSON.

BRICK MACHINE.

(gpplication filed Oct. 7, 1898.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0., WASHINGTON D c No. 707,275. Patented Aug. I9, 1902.

W. F. STIMPSON.

BRICK MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1898.)

4 Sheets- Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WWW

N0. 707,275. Patent ed Aug. 19, I902.

' w. F. STIMPSON.

BRICK MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 7, 1898.) QNo ModeI. 4 Sheeis-Shoet 4.

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UNITED STATES.

WALTER F. STIMPSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF MILAN, MICHIGAN.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersjPate'nt No. 707,275, dated August 19, 1902. Application filed October 7, 1898. Serial No. 692,935. (No niodeLl T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER F. STIMPsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milan, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Brick-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference beings.

The invention consists in a brick-machine, and particularly in what is known as the cut-off for the brick-machine.

Aside from the mechanical constructions, which are improvements on existing structures and which are hereinafter pointed out .and claimed, the invention consists in a general way in providing a roll or rolls upon which the column of clay from the clay-mill is directly delivered and from which it moves upon the reciprocating table, said rolls transmitting the power of themoving clay to the table in its forward movement. This construction dispenses with the necessity of using the belts usually employed to obtain the requisite friction from the moving clay to feed the carriage forwards Therefore it greatly simplifies the construction of machine, greatly reducing the amount of floor-space occupied, and reduces the cost.

The second main point of invention in the machine is the device for returning the table to its initial position after it has been fed forward by the clay. Such returning mechanism consists of a positively-driven or power mechanism receiving its energy from some source besides the moving column of clay and which returns the table positively to its initial position and then is disconnected from the table in such a way that the column of moving clay does not have to overcome the friction of intermeshing gears or other power devices, and therefore the work required of the clay is greatly reduced and theconstruction of the machine is greatly simplified. Inasmuch as the rollers positively time, the interval between the forward reciprocations of the table and the interval for the actuation of the cutting-0E mechanism, it is immaterial within certain limits how fast or how slow the table is returned to its initial position.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my machine complete. Fig. 2 is a ing had therein to the accompanying draw-- horizontal section through the lower driveshaft by which power is communicated to various power-driven mechanisms in the machine. Fig. 3 is a sectionon line was of Fig.

2. Fig. 4.- is a side elevation, enlarged, of the connection between the clay-receiving roll and the carriage. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in different position and with a part of the connecting-bar removed.

Fig. 6 is a section on line z a, Fig. 7, illus-' trating the construction of a lock for thetable during certain periods in the operation.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line y y, Fig. 4, illustrating the operation of this look. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the machine, showing the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the operating mechanism for the cut-0E. Fig. 9 is an endelevation looking from the discharge end of the machine. Fig. 10 is a detail section on line to w of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a diagram longitudinal section through the machine and illustrating particularly the return mechanism for the table.- Fig. 12 is an elevation, partly in section, of the actuating device for returning the table, showing the parts in position when the clutch is about to be tripped to return the table.

A represents the frame of the machine. At the'receiving end of the machine and journaled in suitable bearings is a roll B, which receives the clay directly from the clay-mill C. I find that in some cases a single roll B will give sufficient friction from the clay to feed forward the table, as hereinafter described; but it may be desirable to add a second roll, such as B, so as to make certain that ample friction is obtained from the moving clay. With either one or two rolls, however,

the table. In case I use the two rolls I gear them together in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by a sprocket-chain 0 (shown in Fig. 8) or by other suitable gearing. Immediately in front of this roll or these rolls is supported the table D. The table is slidingly supported in bearings from the top of the frame,

and in this case I have shownoit supported] upon the side bars D,which act as rails for it tov run upon. I preferably provide ball or roller bearings to reduce thefriction of the movement of the table. The table has upon it the transversely-moving cut-off E, which carries suitable cutters, such as the wires E, operating in slots F between suitable abutments F on the table. The general arrangement of the table and cut-off is the usual arrangement in such machines, the table reciprocating and the cut-0E operated in the forward movement of the table.

As previously stated, the object of my machine is to dispense with the belts heretofore used to deliver the clay upon and from which power was obtained to feed forward the table. By using the rolls B or B and B, I dispense with the belt. These rolls I may make of any suitable material and cover them with felt or similar cover and feed upon them oil, as from the tank G, so that the clay will not stick to their surfaces. I also provide suitable guiderollers G upon opposite sides, so as to properly direct the column of clay into the machine. Gonnected to one of the rolls,and preferably directly upon its shaft,is the gear-wheel H, and from this gear-wheel I make connection to the table for feeding it forward.

I is the connecting bar or rod, which is journaled at one end to the table and at the other end extends over the gear-wheel H and is provided with the rack-bar a, adapt-.

ed at the precise time to mesh with the gearwheel H. When thus in mesh, the gear and the roller B being of the same diameter it is evident that the motion of the clay will impart motion to the gear-wheel, and thus feed forward the table at exactly the same speed as the clay is moved. The parts at the beginning of the movement of the table are as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and in full lines in Fig. 5, the rack-bar in that position being just in the act of engaging the gear-wheel. When the table has reached the end of its movement,the rack-bar is lifted from engagement with the gear-wheel by a lug or pin b upon the gear-wheel engaging with the flange e on the bar I, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. At this instant the power mechanism, as hereinafter described, is thrown into operation and returns the table quickly to its initial position; but the rack-bar is still held out of engagement with the gear-wheel by the pin Z) and flange e, and the table is locked from movement forward again by the lug or bar 0 on the inner side of the rack dropping behind the roller-latch d, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The parts are held in this position until the clay has moved the proper distance for another cut, regardless of the speed of the return, and this is accomplished by having the gear-wheel I-I control the engagement of the rack-bar with its actuating means. As the gear-wheel H continues its rotation a cam or segmental lugf thereon will pass beneath the rack-bar a and continue to hold it out of engagement with the gear-wheel after the pin 1) has turned out of engagement with the flange e and until the end of said lug f passes beyond said rack-bar and allows the latter to drop into engagement with the gear, as shown in Fig. 5. The dropping of the rack-bar will carry the lug or bar 0 below the center of roll 61 and allow the latter to run up on top of said bar when it is fed forward. Thus it will be seen that regardless of the speed with which the table is returned to its initial position and regardless of the speed at which the clay is moved forward the table begins its forward movement only after stated quantities of clay have passed upon it or have passed over the roll B. This insures absolute perfection in the size of all the bricks cut, inasmuch as the cut-off carriage is supported by the table and operates during the forward travel thereof.

I will now describe the cutting mechanism for the cut-off carriage.

J is a drive-shaft, power being applied thereto through any suitable source. (Not shown.) Upon this shaft is a sleeve K, the shaft turning loosely therein. Secured to the end of this sleeve is the latch L, having a spring around the fulcru m tending to throw it in a position where it will be in the path of the stops K secured to the shaft J, and caused to travel therewith. This latch is, however, normally held out of such position by means of a rock-arm L upon the transverse shaft at the base of the machine, which engages with the end of the latch-arm, these parts being shown in Figs. 2 and 3.- When the rackbar on the rod I drops into engagement with the gear-wheel H, the arm Mon the connecting-bar strikes the rock-arm M upon the transverse shaft, to which the arm L is secured, and disengages the latch L, so that it falls into the path of the stop K and thereby connects the sleeve K for one revolution to the drive-shaft J. At the end of that revolution the latch L strikes the arm L again and is disengaged. This single revolution of the sleeve K as the table begins to move forward with the clay actuates the cut-off by the following connecting mechanism:

0 is a beveled gear-wheel meshing with the bevel-pinion O of one-half size and secured on the sleeve K. The gear-wheel O is on the shaft P at the base of the machine, and at the opposite end this shaft has a crank P. (Shown in Figs. 8 and 9.) This crank has a pitman Q, which is connected to the slotted head or plate Q, which slotted plate is held with the slot always in a horizontal position by means of the two parallel rods R, pivoted at opposite ends to the plate and toa stationary abutment on the frame, as shown in Fig. 8. In the slot of the slotted plate Q is a pin or roller S, which in turn is connected to the vertical rack-bar S, as shown in Fig. 10. This rack-bar meshes with the pinion i of the shaft 70, which also carries a gear-wheel l, which meshes with the horizontal rack m, which latter rack is upon the cut-0E carriage, and thus motion is imparted through the connections described to the cut-0E carriage. The carriage cuts in its travel both ways and remains at rest at the end of its cutting moveed at its opposite end to the table, the two sections U and U forming the connecting rod from the drive mechanism for returning the table with the power or actuating device therefor. The face-plate U is normally loose upon the shaft T, but is connected therewith by a clutch, which may be and is, as I have shown, of the same construction as that upon the shaft J for connectingthe power-shaft with the cut-off carriage. In this case the latch L is held against the tension of its spring and out of the path of the revolving stops K by one end of the bell-crank lever V, pivoted upon I any suitable part of the frame of the machine, as shown in Fig. 11, the other end projecting into the path of a lug W upon the section U of the connecting-rod, so that as the table reaches the end of its forward movement the lug W strikes the lever V and trips it, which causes the'clutch to connect to, and revolve the face-plate U, and in the first half of its revolution the crank-pin will press against the end of the section U? of the connecting-rod and push it, together with the table, back to its initial position. As soon as the crank-pin starts upon the second half of its revolution the crank-pin will be with drawn from the end of the section U so that in its forward movement no work will be required from the moving clay except to overcome the friction of the partU sliding upon the part U. At the proper moment the lever V drops into engagement with the latch L and trips it, disconnecting the clutch, and the parts remain in the position shown in Fig. 12 until they are again returned and the operation repeated. The result of this construction is that after the table is returned to its initial position its power driving mechanism is disconnected therefrom, so that the least possible work is required of the clay in pushing the table forward.

The operation of the machine as a whole in brief is as follows: Clay from the clay-mill is fed upon the roller B. Sufficient claybeing upon the carriage and the rack-bar a, being in engagement with the gear-wheel H through the connecting-rod I, the table is moved forward. As the rack -bar engages with the gear-wheel a clutch connects the power-shaft J with the drive-gear for the cut-off frame E in the manner described, and while the table is moved forward the cut-off frame is moved laterally across the table and the bricks are cut from the column of clay. When the ta- -ble has reached the end of its forward travel, the clutch on the shaft T is tripped and connection is made withthe power-shaftfto return the table positively to its initial position. 111 the return movement the rack-bar is disconnected from the gear-wheel H by sliding upon the lug f. The table having returned before a proper-sized out has moved upon the table, it waits until the proper amount has passed thereon and is locked during that interval by means of the roller (1, behind which the lug or flange c engages, as described. When the proper amount of clay has traveled forward for another cut, the rack-bar (being still supported by. the lug f on the wheel H) is lowered by dropping off the squared end of said In g f, thereby becoming unlocked from the roll d, and is again connected with the gear-wheel H and moves forward for another operation.

In the claims I have'used the words a cut of clay to indicate the amount of claycut ofi from the moving column at each reciprocation of the cut-ofi carriage.

'What I claim as my invention is I I 1. In a brick-machine, the combination with a reciprocating cut-01f table moved forward,

by the column of clay, of a return device therefor comprising a crank, and a lost-motion connection between said crank and tableadapted to return the latter in one half-revolution of said crank, and to permitof the free rotation of said crank through the other halfrevolution. I

I 2. In abrick-Inachine, thecombinationwith a reciprocating cut-off table, moved forward by the column of clay, of a return device therefor comprising a two-part telescoping connecting-rod, one part being connected to thetable, a crank ,to which the other partof the rod is connected and meansfor intermittently actuating the crank for the purpose de scribed. I V

3. In a brick-machine, the combination with a reciprocating cut-ofi table moved forward by the column of clay, of a return power mechanism therefor comprisinga rod, connecting the table to the power mechanism,

one part of the rod being connected to the table and theother part to the actuating at;

vice therefor,=witha slidingconnection between the two parts, and means for inter.- mittently reciprocating the rod connected to the power mechanism, for the purpose described. I

4. In a brick-machine,the combination with a reciprocatingcut-ofi table, of a rotating support over which the clay is fed onto said table, a gear-wheel connected with said rotating support, a connecting-bar pivotally attached at one end to said table, and extending over said gear-wheel, the under side of said bar having a rack-face, means for holding said rack, out of engagement with said gear-wheel, during a partial revolution thereof an d'then allowing the former to drop into engagement with the latter, and means for &

locking said bar from forward movement while out of engagement with said gear-wheel and for automatically unlocking said bar upon the dropping thereof into engagement.

5. In a brick-machine,the combination with a reciprocating cut-0E table, of a rotating support over which the clay is fed onto said table, a gear-wheel connected with said rotating support, a connecting-bar pivotally attached to said table and extending over said gear-wheel, the under side of said bar being provided with a rack-face, means for holding said rack above and out of engagement with the gear-wheel during a partial revolution thereof and then dropping the same into engagement, a flange extending laterally from said bar, and a stop arranged to be in the path of the forward end of said flange while said bar is held in its raised position, the dropping of said bar being adapted to clear said flange from said stop.

6. In a brick-machine, the combination of the roller B, upon which the clay is fed from the clay-mill, and a reciprocating table adapted to be moved forward by the clay through the motion of the roller, of connecting mechanism consisting of the gear-wheel H, having the lugf and pin 1), the connecting-bar I, having the rack-bars a, and the flange or cam e, cooperating with the pin on the gear-wheel for the purpose described.

7. The combination with a reciprocating table and its transversely-reciprocating cutofi carriage, of an actuating device therefor, comprising the rack-bar S and its connecting-gear to the carriage, of a vertically-reciprocating actuating device for the rack-bar and a sliding connection between such actuating device and the rack-bar whereby the actuation of the rack-bar takes place during the forward travel of the carriage, substantially as described.

8. In a brick-machine,the combination with the reciprocating table of a transversely-reciprocating cut-ofi carriage thereon, of an actuating device for the cut-ofi frame comprising a drive-shaft, means for temporarily connecting the drive-shaft with a suitable source of power, the slotted plate Q adapted to be reciprocated by connection with the drive shaft, means for holding the slotted plate in a horizontal position and a vertical reciprocating actuating device for the cut-01f carriage having sliding engagement with the slotted plate, substantially as described.

9. In a brick-machine,the combination with the transversely-reciprocating cut-off, a reciprocating table upon which the cut-off is carried, of a reciprocating device for the cutoE comprising the vertically reciprocating rack-bar S carried by the table, the gear connection from the rack-bar to the cut-off, the slotted head Q, the links R supporting the slotted head continually in a horizontal position, means for intermittently and positively actuating the slotted head and a sliding connection between that head and the rack-bar.-

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER F. STIMPSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMORE, M. B. ODOG ERTY. 

